JP2007509665A - Container for holding aseptic articles and dispenser of aseptic articles - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (100), for receiving sterile products (10), which comprises a container body (20), having at least one continuous receiving channel (21), provided with a covering element (30) at least at one end thereof. According to said invention, a discharging stamp (22) is movably arranged in the receiving channel (21), the stamp length being smaller than the length of the receiving channel (21), such that a cavity (23) is formed in said receiving channel (21), for receiving the sterile product (10), said cavity being sealed to the exterior by means of the covering element (30). The invention also relates to a sterile product dispenser, provided with an actuating device and said container (100).

Description

  The present invention relates to a container for holding a sterile article having the features according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention particularly relates to a container for an acupuncture needle. The invention further relates to a dispenser for sterile articles and a method for supplying sterile articles, in particular acupuncture needles, using this dispenser for sterile articles.

  In many fields of medicine, biology, and biochemistry, there has been great interest in sterile work environments, for example, during intervention on living tissue, during the treatment or measurement of cells or cell cultures. Yes. Technical adjuvants such as syringes or scalpels, or auxiliary materials such as implant materials are frequently used. This implant material is housed in a protective container in a sterile environment and is simply released immediately during use.

  For example, blister packs made of molded plastic shells and sealing films are frequently used as containers for aseptic articles. The infusion cannula or the acupuncture needle is accommodated, for example, in this blister pack in a sterile manner. This blister pack has the following problems. First, the packaging material can generally only be used once. Thus, an undesirable waste package is produced. Secondly, removing the material packed in a sterile state from the blister pack requires a lot of manual labor, and there is a high risk of unexpectedly damaging or contaminating the sterile article. Finally, blister packs do not favor the ratio of the pack size to the size of the packaged sterile article. The density of a pack of sterile articles cannot be easily increased.

  DE 200 15 353 U1 describes a container for a beam treatment needle in a manual beam treatment device. A plurality of beam treatment needles attached to the retaining ring are positioned in the sleeve-shaped container. The container contains a plurality of acupuncture needles that allow the needle to be positioned for incorporation into a manual acupuncture device without touching the hand. However, a substantial problem is that the acupuncture needles in known containers cannot be accommodated in a protected environment in a sterile environment. Furthermore, the known containers are not suitable for supplying individual beam treatment needles for manual positioning.

  In US 2001/0014792, a needle magazine for a syringe needle is known which is located in a magazine body compartment in a sterile environment. In each use, one needle is removed from the magazine by a syringe piston. Known magazines have a complex structure that is limited to use with specially adapted syringes. The needle magazine is not suitable for supplying different shaped needles or tools.

  The above problems do not exist only in the case of a container or dispenser for a syringe needle or acupuncture needle. The above problems also exist in all other applications in which sterile articles are stored in a reliable protected state and their operating costs are low.

  The object of the present invention is to overcome the problems of the known containers and propose an improved container for holding sterile articles having a wide range of applications. This container should in particular have improved protection against environmental influences, simple construction and easy maneuverability. This container should in particular make it possible to achieve a dense packing of several parts that are housed in aseptic conditions and automatically loaded. Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved dispenser for aseptic articles such as syringe needles or acupuncture needles. Such dispensers overcome the problems of known dispensers or magazines. Such a dispenser should in particular have simple maneuverability and high flexibility while being applied to various tasks. Another object of the present invention is to propose an improved method for delivering sterile articles such as acupuncture needles or syringe needles. By such a method, the known application problems of containers or dispensers for sterile articles are overcome.

  These objects are solved by a container for holding sterile articles, a dispenser for sterile articles and a method for supplying sterile articles having the features according to claim 1, 27 or 37. . Preferred embodiments and application examples of the invention are obtained from the dependent claims.

  With respect to this device, the object of the present invention is solved according to the first aspect by a container for holding a sterile article as follows. The container has a container body through which at least one receiving channel extends. The channel has a cover at least at one end that is open to the surface of the container body. This cover forms a sterile barrier to resist the entry of unwanted contamination from the environment into the receiving channel. A cavity for receiving a sterile article is formed in the receiving channel between the cover and the displaceable pushing ram.

  The use according to the invention of a compact container body, having a receiving channel, from which each sterile article, for example a syringe needle or a beam treatment needle, can be released by displacing the pusher ram, It has the following effects. Initially, the container body can be repeatedly sterilized and reusable so that packaging waste is reduced. Further, aseptic conditions can be incorporated into the container with high safety. The sterile article in the receiving channel is substantially surrounded by the sterile inner wall of the receiving channel, and the sterile article is not contaminated from this inner wall. At the opening of the receiving channel, the sterile article is shielded against the outside by a cover. This cover has a reduced area compared to, for example, a blister pack, so as to reduce the risk of the cover entering accidentally. The breakable cover for releasing the sterile article can be formed thin enough to have sufficient stability. Another important effect is that for the user, the sterile article can be released with one hand so that the other hand remains free to receive the released sterile article. Finally, containers according to the present invention have universal applications for various types of objects (especially devices, device parts or members) that are contained in a sterile manner. Receiving channels that preferably have an elongated and straight shape include, for example, disposable pipettes, sugar test lancets, scalpel knives, cannula needles, acupuncture needles, implant members, etc. The various parts are arranged in a protected state and can be released by displacing the pushing ram.

  In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the pushing ram has other cavities, such as inner bores, the effect of properly positioning the sterile article within the receiving channel and the effect of displacing the sterile article with the pushing ram. Obtainable. For example, the remainder of the sterile article, such as the needle handle of a beam treatment needle or the shaft of a surgical tool, is placed in the cavity between the cover of the receiving channel and the pusher ram, while the beam treatment needle or syringe, for example A portion of a sterile article, such as a needle section of a cannula attachment section or a cutting area of a surgical tool, can protrude into the bore. Preferably, double guidance of the sterile article is performed, one in the receiving channel and the other in the bore of the pushing ram. This ensures that when the sterile article is released from the container according to the present invention, the sterile article is held sufficiently stably in the container until it is finally removed manually or by an auxiliary device.

  According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the pusher ram is positioned locked in the receiving channel. Thus, preferably the risk of unwanted contamination reaching the sterile article from the direction of the pushing ram can be reduced. Further protection is obtained when a cover is provided at the rear end of the receiving channel according to another variant of the invention.

  The cover provided on the front side of the container and, if necessary, on the rear side is preferably formed of a material such as a layer. This material can be manually broken with sterile articles by displacement of the pushing ram. In this case, further tools for penetrating the sterile cover can be positioned together. For example, the use of essentially available laminates based on paper and / or plastic films, such as so-called “medicinal paper”, is particularly effective with regard to the use of materials to form a sterile barrier. It is.

  The at least one receiving channel in the container body can be formed in various cross-sectional shapes depending on the particular application. For example, it can have a rectangular, elliptical, or circular cross section. However, a circular cross section is preferred, especially because of the high containment stability of the pushing ram for rod-shaped or cylindrical aseptic articles and the displacement without wedges. The cylindrical receiving channel has the further effect that the area of the inner wall is minimized for a given volume, thus facilitating sterility and reducing the risk of contamination. It is particularly preferred that the at least one receiving channel is formed with a channel inner diameter of at least 1 mm.

  There are particularly preferred applications of the container according to the invention. The container contains at least one acupuncture needle composed of a needle handle and a needle section, and the receiving channel has a circular cross section and an inner diameter equal to or greater than the outer diameter of the needle handle. It is preferable.

  It is particularly preferred that the bore of the pusher ram is arranged to receive the needle section for receiving the beam treatment needle. Therefore, in addition to the double guidance described above, it is generally preferred to provide special protection for the needle tip, which is generally an important quality feature of the acupuncture needle. In order to improve the stability of the positioning of the beam treatment needle into the receiving channel, it may be advantageous that the inner diameter of the pusher ram is smaller than the outer diameter of the needle handle. This avoids the risk of the acupuncture needle sliding completely into the push ram or being inserted into the bore of the push ram during displacement of the push ram. The needle handle forms a support for which force transmission occurs during the displacement of the pushing ram.

  Preferably, the present invention can also be applied to a so-called guide tube acupuncture needle. With regard to the acupuncture needle of this guide tube, the aseptic article is formed by a combination of a protective guide tube and a needle composed of a needle handle and a needle tip. The needle is fixed in the guide tube, for example by adhesive connection. In a variant, the pushing ram of the container according to the invention is formed by a guide tube. The inner bore of the pusher ram is accordingly selected to be slightly larger than the needle handle. The use of a guide tube acupuncture needle has the advantage that sterility problems can be avoided during container loading.

  According to a further embodiment of the invention, the container is provided with a mandrel, against which a force for opening the cover can be directly applied by a pushing ram. This is because the use of a guide tube acupuncture needle does not allow sufficient force to be transmitted by the needle handle to break the cover.

  If a cutting area is provided at the front end of the mandrel, opening the cover from the inside of the receiving channel can be substantially facilitated. A further advantage for processing a container according to the invention is that the mandrel forms a hollow component with a continuous inner hole, through which the sterile article is opened by the opened cover. Is obtained by being issued. In this case, the mandrel is required to open only the cover. The sterile article can be removed from the container without the mandrel being separated from the container.

  According to a further variant of the invention, in order to improve the retention of the mandrel provided in the container, the mandrel is provided with a protruding part projecting radially outward, for example a projecting part projecting in a circular or lateral direction Is provided. Such a protrusion is located on the outer surface of the mandrel, preferably from the front surface of the mandrel, in particular a predetermined distance away from the cutting area. This distance is selected so that the protrusion stays in the receiving channel under the cover with the mandrel advanced after opening the cover. Thus, when the mandrel is displaced from the receiving channel to open the cover, the protrusion, and thus the mandrel, is held under the opened cover or trapped in the gap between the container body and the cover. Thus, the effect is provided that further displacement of the mandrel is avoided.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mandrel is provided with a sleeve at the rear end directed towards the sterile article. This sleeve forms a support for the pushing ram, at least during the opening of the cover. Preferably, the mandrel or at least the sleeve is deformable such that the support is formed by the sleeve in a first step while opening the cover, and the sleeve is opened and the sterile article is completely passed after the cover is opened. Has an inner diameter. For this purpose, the sleeve is preferably made of a stretchable elastic material that is pre-pressurized in a receiving channel in the container body. In this embodiment of the invention, at one end closed by the cover, the receiving channel comprises a mandrel receptacle having a large diameter. The mandrel receptacle is larger in diameter than the remaining channels. Due to the dimensions of the mandrel receptacle, the mandrel sleeve displaced forward can be released as soon as the mandrel opens the cover.

  Specific effects for the most versatile applications of containers according to the invention for different types of sterile articles, for example different types of beam treatment needles with different handles as well as needle sizes, A ram length is obtained when the sum of this ram length and the maximum length of the needle handle of a given beam treatment needle is less than or equal to the channel length of the receiving channel. In this case, for a standard one pushing ram, the container according to the invention can be used appropriately for all predetermined types of beam treatment needles.

  The displacement of the pushing ram so as to release the sterile article is effectively caused by applying a driving force through the receiving channel from the rear side of the container body. For this purpose, according to another variant, the container according to the invention can be equipped with a drive part for displacing the pushing ram. According to a preferred embodiment, the drive part has a drive pin, the size of the drive pin corresponding to the inner diameter of the receiving channel.

  According to another particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the container body has a plurality of receiving channels. Unlike the blister pack described above, the receiving channel, and thus the aseptic article, can be located in a high density within the container according to the present invention. In addition, the reservoir is provided with a number of individual sterile article parts, such as a needle treatment needle. This reservoir makes it possible to perform a permanent and constant operation with the sterile article.

  Since the receiving channel extends parallel to each other from the rear side to the front side of the container body, the effect of high spatial density of the aseptic article can be obtained.

  In general, the container body can be formed in a volume shape suitable for the respective application of the container according to the invention. According to a preferred variant, the container body has an exact cylindrical shape. In this case, a particularly compact structure and facilitating the alignment of the container to the dispenser according to the invention (see below) can be automated, for example on a rotating cycle table, according to the invention. The effect of facilitating packing of aseptic articles in the container can be obtained. In order to set the container body to be reproducible with respect to the drive device, the receiving channel is arranged such that the intersection of successive receiving channels in a predetermined cross-sectional area of the container body results in a predetermined pattern. It may be effective to be located within. When a cylindrical container body is used, the intersections form a plurality of coaxial circles. In this case, the plurality of receiving channels are preferably arranged radially in the alignment direction. This means that the intersections with the considered cross-sectional areas of the receiving channels adjacent to each other in the radial direction are formed in a straight line intersecting the cylinder axis.

  According to another variant, the container body has a cubic shape, in which the receiving channels are arranged in rows or in the form of a matrix.

  Another effect of the present invention can be obtained when the cover of the receiving channel provided on the front side of the container, if necessary, on the rear side is formed of a layer-shaped integral material. Thus, the formation of a sterile barrier by applying a cover can be facilitated when packing sterile articles.

  With respect to this device, the above object is solved according to another aspect of the invention by providing a dispenser for a sterile article, in particular a beam treatment needle or syringe needle. The dispenser has a drive device, to which the container according to the invention is attached. This drive device also allows the pushing ram to be driven in at least one receiving channel. The dispenser according to the present invention preferably forms a compact device with a wide range of applications for various types of sterile articles to be stored in a sterile condition. The dispenser according to the invention is preferably capable of being operated with one hand.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a drive device having a drive pin for displacing at least one pusher ram is a housing forming the handle or wall support of a dispenser according to the present invention. Is housed inside. According to a preferred variant, this drive pin can be driven by a manually driveable drive. Alternatively, an electrically driven drive device can be provided. If the drive device has a supply rod in the housing, and the drive pin is attached to this housing, a special effect is obtained, for example, that it is driven manually, for example using one finger. When the drive pin is positioned so as to be eccentrically adjustable, it is preferable that drive positions with different radial directions can be set. This makes it possible to use a single drive pin, for example even in a container having a plurality of receiving channels positioned coaxially in a cylindrical container body.

  A further advantage for easily driving the dispenser according to the invention is obtained when the drive device is further equipped with an adjusting device for aligning the container according to the invention with respect to the drive pin. Can do. For example, the cylindrical container body can be rotatably arranged on the supply rod and can be aligned to fit each drive pin. Such alignment is preferably further facilitated when a latch device for adjusting the container body is provided at a predetermined position exactly corresponding to the position of the receiving channel in the container body. Thus, for example, systematic release of sterile articles according to the order of the receiving channels is facilitated.

  If the housing of the drive device is formed as a handle extending parallel to the receiving channel in the container body, the effect that the dispenser can be operated with one hand can be obtained. Alternatively, a vertical alignment with respect to the receiving channel can be provided, and such an alignment can be effective in certain procedures where, for example, various people use the dispenser.

  With respect to the method, the above object of the present invention is that the aseptic article is each displaced by an extrusion ram until the cover is broken by the aseptic article and the exposed portion of the aseptic article is protruded from the container body for further use. This is solved by supplying a sterile article, in particular an acupuncture needle or syringe needle, using a dispenser according to the invention or a container according to the invention to be displaced in the receiving channel.

  Preferably, when using the acupuncture needle, the sterile article is first pushed out of the receiving channel so that the needle handle is released, then the handle is grasped, for example by a doctor, and the needle is treated Can be inserted into human skin.

  Further details and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings.

  The present invention is described below by way of example with reference to containers and dispensers for acupuncture needles. Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to this application, but are possible in other types of sterile articles of interest in medicine, biology, and biochemistry, such as syringe needles or pharmaceutical capsules It is emphasized.

  1 and 2 show schematic cross-sectional views of a first embodiment of a container 100 according to the invention in a closed state (FIG. 1) and an open state (FIG. 2). A container 100 for holding the acupuncture needle 10 includes a container body having a receiving channel 21, a pushing ram 22, and a cover 30.

  The container body 20 is made of plastic, for example, polyethylene. This container main body is manufactured, for example, by an injection molding method or by extrusion molding. The outer shape of the container body 20 is selected according to the needs of a specific application. For example, a cylindrical shape or a cubic shape can be given. It is preferable that the surface of the container body 20 can function as an information carrier. The receiving channel 21 penetrates from the front side 25 to the rear side 26 of the container body 20 like a straight channel. At both ends, the receiving channel is open to the surface of the container body 20. The pushing ram 22 is movably arranged in the receiving channel 21.

  This pushing ram 22 has the shape of a sleeve having an inner hole 24 or a small tube. The outer diameter of the pushing ram 22 is equal to the inner diameter of the receiving channel 21. Therefore, it is preferable that the displacement of the pushing ram 22 ensures that the pushing ram does not slide to one side as a result of inertial movement in the receiving channel 21. However, if such sliding is not important, the outer diameter of the pusher ram can also be smaller than the inner diameter of the receiving channel 21. The pushing ram is preferably formed of the same material as the container body 20.

  The ram length (axial length) of the pushing ram 22 is shorter than the channel length of the receiving channel 21. Accordingly, a cavity 23 is formed on the front side of the container 100 for receiving a sterile article (here, a beam treatment needle). Depending on the size of the needle used, such a cavity can also be formed behind the receiving channel. In the illustrated case, the sterile article 10 is a beam treatment needle comprised of a needle handle 11 and a needle section 12. The needle section 12 projects into the inner hole 24 of the pushing ram 22.

  The cover 30 forms paper covers or film covers 31 and 32 on the front side 25 and the rear side 26 of the container body 20, respectively. For example, medicine wrapping paper (registered trademark) is used. This paper or film 31, 32 is attached to the container body 20 in a manner known per se.

  The container body 20 and the receiving channel 21 are such that the surface surrounding the outlet opening of the receiving channel 21 at the front side 25 and the rear side 26 is large enough to achieve a satisfactory blocking effect in combination with the cover. It has various dimensions.

  FIGS. 1 and 2 also show a drive portion 40 suitable for releasing the beam treatment needle 10 from the container 100. The drive portion 40 includes a drive pin 41 and a handle 42. The length of this drive pin 41 is selected according to the dimensions of the container, in particular the receiving channel 21 and the pushing ram 22, so that the beam treatment needle 10 can be safely pushed out of the receiving channel 21.

  FIG. 1 shows a container 100 according to the present invention in a closed position. The acupuncture needle 10 is placed in a cavity 23 of the receiving channel 21 in a sterile environment. In order to release the beam treatment needle 10, the drive pin 41 is inserted into the rear side 26 of the container body 20. The pushing ram 22 is moved by the drive pin 41 until the needle handle 11 penetrates the cover film 31 at the front side 25. In this state (FIG. 2), the needle handle 11 protrudes from the container body 20 so that manual removal and application can be accomplished.

  The container body 20 has a length of 70 to 80 mm, for example. The diameter of the receiving channel 21 is, for example, 2.5 mm. The length of the pusher ram 22 is selected so that the cavity within the receiving channel 21 is sufficiently long to receive a conventional type of beam treatment needle 10. This length is, for example, 50 mm. The block area around the outlet opening of the receiving channel has, for example, a radial width of 7 mm. On the rear side 26, the container body 20 (e.g. with bellows) and / or the cover (such as a foil) remains such that the rear side of the channel 21 remains closed during operation of the drive portion 40. It is elastically deformable.

  FIG. 3 shows the acupuncture needle 10 and the pusher ram 22 as separate parts (top) and when combined (bottom). The present invention provides a double guide of the acupuncture needle 10 such that the needle section 12 is guided in the pusher ram 22 on the one hand and the pusher ram 22 is guided in the receiving channel 21 on the other hand. Preferably it is possible.

  A second embodiment of the container 100 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 4 in a closed state. This embodiment of the present invention is suitable for guiding a tubular beam treatment needle 10 composed of a needle handle 11, a needle section 12 and a guide tube 13. The needle handle 11 is fixed to the inner surface of the guide tube 13 by a dot-like adhesive connection (see also FIG. 6). As in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the receiving channel 21 in the container body 20 extends like a straight channel between the front side 25 and the rear side 26. In this case, however, a mandrel receptacle 29 is provided at the front end of the receiving channel 21. The inner diameter of the mandrel receiving portion 29 is larger than the inner diameter of the remaining receiving channels 21.

  The receiving channel 21 is closed on both sides of the container body 20 by a cover 30, and this cover is constituted by a paper cover or film covers 31 and 32 made of, for example, medicine-wrapped paper as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows a so-called pressure disc 33 as a further part of the cover 30 with a through hole 34 depending on the position of the receiving channel 21 or the mandrel receiving part 29. The pressure disk 33 can prevent the paper cover or the film cover 31 from being accidentally detached. The through-hole 34 is a further guide for the mandrel 70 and / or aseptic article.

  Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, a hollow mandrel 70 composed of a cutting area 71, a radial protrusion 72, and an elastic sleeve 73 is provided. At the elastic sleeve, the inner diameter of the mandrel 70 can be changed. Prior to pushing the acupuncture needle 10, the mandrel 70 is seated in the receiving channel 21 such that the cutting area 71 faces the cover 31 and the sleeve 73 is pre-pressurized. ing. The radial protrusion 72 is located in the mandrel receiving part 29 of the receiving channel 21.

  In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 4, the drive portion 40 is composed of two drive pins 41A and 41B separated from each other. The first drive pin 41A is connected to the handle 42 as shown in FIG. 1 or other mechanical components of the drive portion 40, and the second drive pin 41B is located in the receiving channel 21. . With such a design, the guide tube 13 of the acupuncture needle 10 has the function of a pushing ram shown in FIG.

  When the drive portion 40 is driven to push the beam treatment needle 10 and, as a result, the drive pins 41A and 41B are moved in the direction of the arrows, the beam treatment needle 10 is moved as shown in FIG. Is provided. In the first step, the sleeve 73 forms a stopper for the guide tube 13, and thus the mandrel 70 is moved toward the cover 31. The cover 31 is penetrated by the cutting area 71 (process I).

  By further movement, the sleeve 13 or the complete mandrel 70 (as shown) can be released (step II), the sleeve 13 or the complete mandrel 70 is unfolded and the guide tube 13 The stopper for is no longer formed. During this further movement, the mandrel 70 with the protrusion 72 is held by the rest of the cover 31, while the guide tube 13 with the protruding needle handle 11 passes through the hollow mandrel 70. It can be displaced (step III). By a further procedure, the needle handle 11 can be manually grasped and withdrawn from the container 100. Due to the slight inclination of the needle handle 11, the adhesive connection can be broken, so that the guide tube 13 is left in the container body 20.

  FIG. 6 shows details of the second embodiment of the present invention, and a mandrel 70 is provided in the container body as shown in FIG. In the partial image A of FIG. 6, a side view of a mandrel 70 composed of a cutting area 71, in this embodiment an annular protrusion 72, and a sleeve 73 is shown. The sleeve 73 is a cylindrical elastic component. A longitudinal (axial) through-hole (gap or overlapping) is provided in the shell of this elastic component. In the short section, the sleeve has a variable diameter for the remaining portion while being integrally connected to the remaining body of the mandrel 70. This diameter can be changed by bending the mantle of the sleeve. In particular, this diameter changes from a pre-pressurized in the receiving channel 21 to a partially released (indicated by dotted lines) in the mandrel receiving part. Can grow. Partial image B shows how the sleeve 73 under pressure forms a stopper for the guide tube of the beam treatment needle 10. Preferably, no force is applied to the needle handle 11 connected to the guide tube 13 by the adhesive connection 14 and the needle section 12 in this state.

  Partial image C shows the push displacement of the beam treatment needle 10 similar to step III in FIG. In this state, the guide tube 13 protrudes through the released sleeve 73 until the needle handle 11 protrudes from the mandrel 70 and can be manually gripped.

  FIG. 7 shows by way of example one embodiment of a container 100 having a container body 20 having a plurality of receiving channels 21 formed therein, according to the present invention. A plan view of the front side 25 of the rectangular container body 20 is shown. A broken line indicates an extension of the medicine wrapper used as the cover 30. The receiving channels 21 are straight and extend parallel to the side of the container body 20, so that the outlet opening of the channel (or the point where it intersects the cross-sectional area of the container body 20) is, for example, Arranged to form a standard arrangement of straight columns and rows. The container 100 according to FIG. 7 forms a magazine for a beam treatment needle, from which the beam treatment needle is for example driven by a drive part 40 as shown in FIG. Can be released.

  The number of receiving channels 21 provided in the container body 20 is selected according to the dimension of the sterile article to be accommodated and the particular application. In the case of an acupuncture needle, this number can be, for example, 50 to 100 or more.

  A variant of the container according to the invention for a plurality of individual acupuncture needles is shown in FIGS. FIG. 8 shows a straight hollow cylindrical container body 20. A plurality of receiving channels 21 are formed in the cylindrical wall (the cover is not shown). These receiving channels 21 extend straight from the front side 25 to the rear side 26 in a direction parallel to the axis of the cylinder. In each receiving channel 21 there is provided a pushing ram 22 similar to the application according to FIG. 1 or 2, or a guide tube 13 similar to FIG. The displacement of the pushing ram 22 and the beam treatment needle 10 by the drive pin 41 is shown in the left hand part of FIG.

  FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a container body 20 with a receiving channel 21 and a pusher ram 22 with a beam treatment needle 10 for illustration of separation from the container body 20. The needle section 12 of the beam treatment needle projects into the pusher ram 22. FIG. 10 shows a plan view of the front side 25 of the container body 20 in which the surface slit 27 can be incorporated. These slits 27 are preferably able to save material and thus reduce weight and function in engagement with the drive. FIG. 7 also shows a protrusion 28 that can be provided inside the container body 20 and can function for engagement with a drive (see FIGS. 12 and 13).

  FIG. 11 shows the application of the cover 30 to the front side 25 and the rear side 26 of the container body 20 in a perspective view with a part cut away. Preferably, on both sides, all receiving channels 21 are each closed by a continuous ring of medicine wrapper or a suitable cover film.

  The container 100 according to the invention, for example FIGS. 7 to 11, forms a dispenser module of a dispenser for a magazine or aseptic article, in particular a beam treatment needle, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Two embodiments of a dispenser 200 according to the present invention, according to FIG. 12, consist of a container 100 for sterile articles and drive devices 50, 60 for manually releasing the sterile articles from the container 100. ing. The container 100 is prepared, for example, as a cylindrical magazine according to FIGS. 8 to 11 so as to hold a beam treatment needle.

  The driving devices 50 and 60 have a housing 51 in which a driving pin 52 and a driving device 60 for driving the driving pin are located. The drive device 60 has a supply rod 61 that runs from the operation button 53 to the adjustment device 62. The adjusting device 62 is equipped with a click stopper device 63 for aligning the container 100 and a support portion 64 for the drive pin 52. These parts interact as follows.

  The drive pin 52 is seated on a support 64 that is eccentrically adjustable. This support can be adjusted by adjusting wheel 54 in three positions corresponding to three coaxial rings (see FIG. 10) of receiving channels in container 100. As soon as the operating button 53 is pressed, the supply rod 61 moves upward in two steps. In the first step, the container 100 is rotated to a new position in the receiving channel. For this purpose, the pushing movement of the supply rod 61 is converted into a rotational movement by the latch device 63 according to the grid size of the receiving channel in the container 100. In the second step, the drive pin 52 is displaced until it passes through the receiving channel in the container 100 and releases the beam treatment needle 10 at the front side 25 of the container 100 in the manner described above. Due to the action of the spring 65, the supply rod 61 is retracted as soon as the operating button 53 is released. Reference numeral 55 indicates a protective cover, which is removed during use of the dispenser 200.

  Unlike the axial alignment of the supply rod 61 to the cylindrical axis of the container 100 shown in FIG. 12, axial deflection can also be provided as shown in FIG. In this case, the drive device is housed in a housing 50 forming a handle. The displacement of the drive pin is effected using the action button 53. Alternatively, the dispenser 200 can be mounted on an electrically operated drive. A drive device with a container can be mounted on a wall in a laboratory, for example, and driven using a servo motor.

  The features of the invention disclosed in the previous description, drawings, and claims can be important individually and in combination to implement the invention in various embodiments.

1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a container for a sterile article according to the invention having a single receiving channel. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a container for a sterile article according to the invention having a single receiving channel. Fig. 2 shows a view of a pusher ram used according to the present invention with the acupuncture needles joined. Figure 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a container for a sterile article according to the present invention, provided with a mandrel. FIG. 5 shows a diagram of the various stages shown in FIG. 4 where a sterile article has been pushed from a container of sterile articles according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 shows a detailed view of a further embodiment of a container for a sterile article according to the invention, given a mandrel. Figure 3 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of a container for a sterile article according to the present invention having a plurality of receiving channels. FIG. 4 shows a view of another embodiment of a container for a sterile article according to the present invention having a plurality of receiving channels. FIG. 4 shows a view of another embodiment of a container for a sterile article according to the present invention having a plurality of receiving channels. FIG. 4 shows a view of another embodiment of a container for a sterile article according to the present invention having a plurality of receiving channels. FIG. 4 shows a view of another embodiment of a container for a sterile article according to the present invention having a plurality of receiving channels. Figure 2 shows various embodiments of a dispenser for sterile articles according to the present invention. Figure 2 shows various embodiments of a dispenser for sterile articles according to the present invention.

Claims (38)

A container (100) for holding a sterile article (10) comprising a container body (20) comprising at least one continuous receiving channel (21) and having a cover (30) at least at one end of the receiving channel. )
A pushing ram (22) is displaceably disposed in the receiving channel (21), the ram length of the pushing ram being such that a cavity (23) is formed in the receiving channel (21) and the sterile article (10 The container is shorter than the channel length of the receiving channel (21) so that the cavity is closed by the cover (30) with respect to the outside.   2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the pushing ram (22) is shaped like a sleeve having an inner hole (24).   A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pushing ram (22) is positioned locked in the receiving channel (21).   4. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the receiving channel (21) has one cover (31, 32) at each end.   The container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cover (30) is formed in a layered shape with a material (31) that can be manually broken by the aseptic article (10).   6. Container according to claim 5, wherein the cover (30) is made of sterile paper or film (31).   As a sterile article, it is adapted to receive at least one beam treatment needle (10) composed of a needle handle (11) and a needle section (12), and the receiving channel (21) is connected to the needle handle (11). The container according to any one of claims 2 to 6, which has a channel inner diameter which is longer than the outer diameter.   8. A container according to claim 7, wherein the inner bore (24) of the pushing ram (22) is set to receive the needle section (12).   The container according to claim 8, wherein the diameter of the inner hole (24) is shorter than the outer diameter of the needle handle (11).   Any one of the preceding claims, wherein a mandrel (70) is arranged in a mandrel receiving part (29) of the receiving channel (21) and the cover (30) is openable by the mandrel (70). Container.   11. Container according to claim 10, wherein the mandrel (70) has an inclined cutting area (71) at one end of the mandrel (70) facing the cover (30).   The mandrel (70) has a radial protrusion (72) by which the mandrel (70) is held in the receiving channel with the cover (30) open. 12. A container according to claim 10 or 11 that can be prepared.   13. The mandrel (70) has an axially extending hollow channel, the inner diameter of the hollow channel being longer than the outer diameter of the sterile article contained in the container (100). Any one of the containers.   A sleeve (73) is provided at the rear end of the mandrel (70), and the inner diameter of the sleeve (73) is a stopper for transmitting the displacement of the aseptic article (10) to the mandrel (70). 14. The container of claim 13, which is selected such that is formed.   The inner diameter of the sleeve (73) and / or the complete mandrel (70) can be increased so that the sterile article (10) can be displaced through the hollow mandrel (70). 14 containers.   The sleeve (73) and / or the complete mandrel (70) is pre-pressurized in the first part of the receiving channel (21) such that the stopper is formed, and the sleeve (73) 16. The container according to claim 15, wherein the container is formed of an elastic material which is released into the adjacent mandrel receiving portion (29) having a large diameter so as to increase the inner diameter thereof.   A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pushing ram (22) has a guide tube (13) for the acupuncture needle (10).   A container according to any one of the preceding claims, equipped with a drive part (40) for displacing the pushing ram (22) in the receiving channel (21).   19. Container according to claim 18, wherein the drive part (40) has a drive pin (41), the diameter of which is less than or equal to the channel inner diameter of the receiving channel (21).   A container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of receiving channels (21) are formed in the container body (20).   21. Container according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of receiving channels (21) extend parallel to each other from the front side (25) to the rear side (26) of the container body (20).   The container according to claim 21, wherein the container body (20) has a cylindrical shape between the front side (25) and the rear side (26).   The plurality of receiving channels (21) are arranged in the container body (20) such that intersections with a cross-sectional area of the container body (20) form two or more coaxial circles. 22 containers.   24. A container according to claim 23, wherein the plurality of receiving channels (21) in the container body (20) are arranged to be radially aligned.   The container according to claim 21, wherein the container body (20) has a cubic shape between the front side (25) and the rear side (26).   The said cover (30) for all receiving channels (21) on the front side (25) and the back side (26) are each formed of one layer of material (31, 32) together. Any one of 20 to 25 containers.   Dispenser (200) for aseptic articles comprising a drive device (50, 60) and a container (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 26.   The drive device (50, 60) has a housing (51), to which the container (100) is attached, and the drive pin (52) moves into the housing (51). 28. The dispenser of claim 27, wherein the dispenser is operatively disposed.   The dispenser of claim 28, wherein the drive pin (52) is movable by a manually driveable drive (60).   The drive device (60) has a supply rod (61) disposed in the housing (51) in a state of being biased by a spring, and the drive pin (52) is attached to the supply rod. 30. The dispenser of claim 29.   31. The dispenser of claim 30, wherein the drive pin (52) is eccentrically attached to the supply rod (61) so that various radial drive positions of the drive pin (52) can be adjusted.   The drive device (60) has an adjustment device (62) disposed in the housing (51) so as to align the container (100) with respect to the drive position of the drive pin (52). 32. A dispenser according to any one of claims 29 to 31.   The adjusting device (62) has a latching device (63) connected to the supply rod (61), by which the container (100) receives two receptacles in the container body (20). 33. The dispenser of claim 32, wherein the dispenser can be displaced prior to driving each of the drive pins (52) in response to a length path corresponding to the distance between the channels (21).   34. Container according to any one of claims 28 to 33, wherein the housing (50) is formed as a handle extending parallel to the alignment direction of the plurality of receiving channels (21) in the container body (20). Body.   34. A dispenser according to any one of claims 28 to 33, wherein the housing (50) is formed as a handle extending perpendicular to the alignment direction of the plurality of receiving channels (21) in the container body (20). .   The dispenser of claim 28, wherein the drive pin (52) is movable by an electrically driven drive.   A portion of each of the aseptic articles is transferred to the aseptic article (10) by moving the push ram (22) within the corresponding receiving channel (22) using the drive (50, 60). 37. A dispenser according to any one of claims 27 to 36, wherein a portion is pushed out of the container (100) until it breaks the cover (30) and protrudes from the container body (20) for subsequent use. Method for supplying sterile articles to a container.   Each one of the acupuncture treatment needles (10) composed of a needle handle (11) and a needle section (10) has the needle handle (11) breaks the cover (30) and the container body (20). 38. The method of claim 37, wherein each is extruded from the container (100) as a sterile article until protruding from the container.

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